In June 1969, agriculture in Thanjavur district of Madras state was facing an unprecedented draught. Due to an unforeseen delay of monsoon in catchment areas, Cauvery reservoirs had reached an all time low. The 'Granary of South' as the district was known from time immemorial, was threatened with famine. The problem had assumed gigantic proportion in the context of the proposed High Yielding Varieties Programme, a centrally sponsored nationwide plan to increase food production. At this situation the key officials of the district were facing a problem of making a crucial risky decision regarding supply of canal water, or sinking wells with an emergency priority and /or changing the cropping pattern.